Final answer:
The energy interaction required to change the length of a spring by applying a force to it is mechanical energy transfer, while the energy interaction required to change the length of a spring by changing its temperature is thermal energy transfer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The energy interaction required to change the length of a spring by applying a force to it is mechanical energy transfer. When a force is applied to compress or extend a spring, work is done on the spring, transferring energy to it. This energy is stored as potential energy in the spring.
The energy interaction required to change the length of a spring by changing its temperature is thermal energy transfer. When the temperature of a spring increases, its atoms gain kinetic energy and move farther apart, causing the spring to expand. This energy transfer is related to the thermal expansion of the spring.